RAPID CITY, S.D. - South Dakota Mines' late surge helped them hold off Colorado School of Mines' comeback bid in an 84-69 decision on Friday.

The Orediggers (11-6, 7-3 RMAC) trailed 43-28 at halftime but roared back to make it a one-point game in the second half before the Hardrockers (8-8, 5-5 RMAC) ended on a 15-5 run.

Kobi Betts led Mines with 16 points off the bench while Ben Boone had 13 and Brendan Sullivan 12. The Hardrockers shot 10-of-11 for three including Jack Fiddler's 5-for-5 night on the way to 19 points. Allec Williams' 26 points led all players for the Hardrockers as he was 3-for-3 from the outside. 

The Hardrockers took a significant halftime lead, 43-28, ending the period on a 9-2 run. Michael Glen scored the first five points of the second half, however, to get the deficit to 10, and the Orediggers chipped away drawing as close as six twice over the next eight minutes. 

A Boone three-pointer at the 9:56 mark sparked a 10-2 Mines run capped by Paul O'Leary's dunk to make it a 60-59 game, but that would be as close as the visitors would get. Mitchell Sueker answered with a dunk of his own to initiate a 7-0 SDSMT run, and back-to-back threes from Fiddler and Williams moments later were a dagger as the Hardrockers' lead was suddenly 11 with 3:39 remaining.

NOTABLES
- SDSMT held a 34-33 rebounding edge. Sullivan led Mines with six rebounds and both Betts and Boone grabbed five.
- The Orediggers shot 42.4 percent overall, but SDSMT hit 57.7 percent of their shots including 61.9 percent in the second half.
- Mines shot a season-low 5-of-11 (.455) at the line.

NEXT UP
Mines stays in South Dakota to visit Black Hills State Saturday at 6 p.m.